Lucky for one entrepreneur, the founder of the stuff-and-outfit your own plush animal phenomenon known as Build-A-Bear Workshop never got far on her idea to pursue a build-a-car concept.
Since 1997, when she opened the first Build-A-Bear workshop in St. Louis, that founder, Maxine Clark, has been besieged with people full of do-it-yourself ideas (make your own books and decorate your shoes, to name a couple.) A few years ago, Ms. Clark herself wrote up a build-a-car business plan, but said she was too busy with bears to do much else than put it on her to-do list. The bears are now available in 300 stores worldwide.
In 2005, Larry Andreini (photo), 44, an entrepreneur from Fairfax, Va., with a background in financial services and customer loyalty programs, came calling with a concept called Ridemakerz, a make-and-outfit your own toy car business. ‘He fit in with our culture,’ Ms. Clark said in an interview. ‘He understood what it takes to bring a brand to reality.’
She decided to collaborate with Mr. Andreini in the form of a $3 million investment and an estimated $15 million in back-office support from Build-A-Bear Workshop. Continue reading…
No comments yet.